Vinyl LPs are back!!! Document Records and Jack White's Third Man Records have teamed up to produce an astonishing new series of vinyl albums. Drawing material from the Document vaults, the series concentrates on the best names in vintage blues. With new sound restoration, remarkable cover artwork, extensive liner notes and detailed discographies, these albums are both a treat for fans of this amazing music and a collectors dream.

These previously unissued recordings were produced by the Edison Company between the years of 1914-1929. The repertoire includes Blues, Country, Hawaiian, Vaudeville Sketches, Popular Vocal Songs of the era, Opera / Classical, Jazz, Dance Bands of the 1920's, speeches by popular orators and political figures and the voice of Mr. Edison himself!

A rapidly increasing collection of fascinating special projects, themes and documentaries – blues, gospel, featured artists. Includes projects commissioned by Paul Oliver, Bill Wyman and Jeff Harris with many more to follow…

The BIG one. At 679 CDs and growing this is one of the biggest slices of Afro-American music history that you will find anywhere. The complete recorded works of hundreds of blues, gospel, spiritual, boogie-woogie, songster artist; from the late 1800s onwards. Many, many recordings not available elsewhere these are the roots of soul, modern gospel, R&B, rap, black urban vocal music and rock.

The original ninyl Blues Document Series preserved on CD. Includes classic recordings such as Blind Willie McTell Library of Congress session of 1940, classic post war recordings by memphis Minnie, by Jessie Thomas (brother of Ramblin' Thomas), Carolina Slim, Cripple Clarence Lofton and many more...

This ever popular series spotlights the many masters of the early Country Music genre known to many as Old Timey music. Here you will find rare, historic recordings by The Skillet Lickers, Dixon Brothers, Fiddlin’ John Carson, Sam McGee, Fiddlin’ Doc Roberts, Walter Smith and many more.

Five CDs rescued from the impressive groundbreaking Matchbox Blues Series which first made its appearance back in the 1980s. Covers the Complete pre-war recorded works of Texas Alexander, Peg Leg Howell and Eddie Anthony.

These, sampler CDs at a low budget price are a an ideal way to not only dip in and discover the delights of Document but are also a great introduction into the blues, jazz, gospel, swing and country music. No expertise required, just sit back and enjoy.

"Matchbox 2000 Series "

Texas Alexander Vol 2 1928 - 1930
Texas Alexander Vol. 2 (16th November 1928 to 9th June 1930)
Texas Alexander, vocal.
Includes performances by: Lonnie Johnson, guitar; King Oliver, cornet; Clarence Williams, piano, Eddie Lang, guitar; “Little Hat” Jones, guitar; Carl Davis, guitar; Bo Carter, violin; Walter Vincson, guitar.
Genres: Texas Country Blues, Male blues vocal, Country blues guitar.
Informative booklet notes by Paul Oliver.
Detailed discography.
Abridged booklet notes.
Recollections of those who knew Texas Alexander tend to emphasize either his lack of stature - he was about five foot tall - his heavy-set build, his large head or his coal-black complexion. Alexander was both a field hand and a store man, and his physical strength made up for his lack of height. It was rumoured in Texas that he served time in the Ramsey Unit of the "Department of Corrections" and further evidence to support this comes in some of these blues. Penitentiary Moan Blues, in particular, is of great interest, not only because it has Alger speaking, but also because it makes reference to Bud Russell; "Uncle Bud", the "Iong-chain man" who brought convicts to the Texas prisons as Joe Turner did to the Tennessee ones. Continued.

Texas Alexander Vol 3 1930 - 1950
MBDC-2003 Texas Alexander Vol. 3 - 9th June to 1950.
Texas Alexander, vocal.
Includes performances by: The Mississippi Sheiks (Bo Carter, violin; Sam Chatman, guitar; Walter Vincson, guitar); Walter Reed, guitar; Carl Davis, guitar; Buster Pickens, piano; Leon Benton, guitar.
Genres: Texas Country Blues, Country Blues guitar, String Band.
Informative booklet notes by Paul Oliver.
Detailed discography.
Abridged from booklet notes.
Texas Alexander was accustomed to singing to the accompaniment of a guitarist and most of his recordings had been of this kind. But when he was back in the recording studio in San Antonio on June 9th, 1930 it was in very different company. Bo Carter and the Mississippi Sheiks were in town and were booked to record over a four day session. They were brought in to back Texas Alexander to start with, providing him with a rare string band setting. They were uncompromising and, unlike his usual deferential accompanists, made no attempt to fit in with his wayward tempos and stanzas. The effect was to discipline his singing and to provide it with an unfamiliar swing. The session also produced one of Alexander's most lyrically significant blues, which told in condensed form of the great tornado of May 6th, 1930, just a month before, which hit Frost in Navarro County, and other locations, leaving 41 people dead and causing over $2.000,000 damage. Continued...